Automatic stop for automobiles



July 9, 1940. H HIRABAYASHI AUTOMATIC STOP FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Nov. 14, 1938 Patented July 9, 1940 :A f AUTOMATIO STOP FOR. v :AUrOMoBILE s I Iirobum Hirabayashi, Tokyo, Japan 2 claims.y (o1. iso-ss) The present invention relates to an automatic stopping device for automobiles, and consists in providing a bumper or buffer beam .which is resiliently'mounted preferably on the front of an` .5 automobile, the buffer beam being extended outwardly according to the running speed of the automobile. This extension is effected by cornpressed air produced by a compressor which is operated by the engine of the car. The autolI) matic stop is operated by the circuit of an electromagnet when the buffer beam is retracted by collision with some object, thus opening a passage for the compressed'air which leads to the controlling piston of a brake lever. The object therel5 of is to obtain a simple devicewhich not only prevents danger to the automobile by collision, but also protects the car from damage by applying the emergency brake automatically.

The accompanying drawing shows a plan rof the automatic stop for automobiles according to the present invention.

In the drawing, I is the engine of an automobile and 2 is an air compressor operated by it. The air compressed by it is delivered to an 25 air reservoir 4 through a pipe 3. The compressed air in the reservoir '4 is on the one hand supplied to the control valve chambers I of valve casings 6 by means of a pipe 5 and on the other hand to a valve casing 9 through a pipe 8. Each of the 30 casings 6 is provi-ded with a valve operator II which is moved up and down by the governors I0. Against the inclined surfaces of both sides rrof the valve operator the rods of an yair feed valve I3 and exhaust valve I2 are pressed by 35 springs I5 and I4 respectively. The above governor is driven by a suitable motion transmitting device from the driving mechanismof the car. When its speed is increased, each valve operator II opens the valve I3 to permit the compressed 40 air from the pipe 5 to pass into the air tubell through a pipe I6, While when the above speed is reduced, the valve operator closes the Valve I3 to out oi the'supply of air. At the same time, the exhaust valve I2 is opened to discharge the 45 air of the tube I'I into the atmosphere through a conduit I8. In this manner, said buler beam is extended according to the running speed of the automobile. I

At the forward part of the automobile a pair 50 of cylinders 20 are arranged which communicate with the tube I'I. Each of them contains a piston 22 which is normally pushed backward by a spring 2l.

is arranged which supports the buffer beam or 55 bumper 23, in such a manner that it can be ex- At the end of the piston 22 a rod 24 tended or retracted. Furthermore, the bumper is held by a spring 25 in a projected position with regard to the piston 22. The front end of the cylinder 20 and the back of the bumper 23 are provided with contacts 26 and 26 respectively which are in the circuit of an electro magnet 21. i

28 is a piston rod connected with the brake lever of the car. The piston is normally pushed inwardly of the cylinder 29 by a spring 30. This cylinder communicates with the valve casing 9 by means of a pipe 3|. A valve 32 in this casing is pushed by a spring 33, so that the valve rod is brought into contact with the inclined surface oi"v a valve operator 34 which when attracted by the electro magnet 21, pushes the valve 32 open so that the compressed air passes into lthe cylinder 29. A valve casing 9' having substantially the same construction is disposed next to the casing 9, on the opposite side of the electro magnet 2l. One side of the valve in the casing 9 communicates with the cylinder I'I through a pipe 35, while the other side communicates with the atmosphere through an opening 36.

In the present invention, when an automobile is running, the compressor 2 operates to store compressed air in the reservoir 4. When the running speed exceeds a certain limit, the governors I move the valve Operators II, whereby the air feed valves I3 are opened to ll the cylinder I1 with the compressed air through the pipes and I6. Then the air enters the cylinders 20 and pushes the'pistons 22 against the action of the springs 2| and consequently the bumper 23 is projected forwardly trom the normal position, the degree of the projection depending on the speed of the car. Thus, when the bumper 23 comes into collision with some object during the running of the car, it retracts compressing the springs 25 and bringing the contacts 26 and 26 into contact with each other, thereby closing the complete circuit of the electro magnet 2l, comprising a battery 31, a wire 38, contacts 26, 26 a wire 39, magnet 2l, frame I3 and a wire 4I, so that the said electro magnet is energized and attracts the valve operator 34. Consequently, the valve 32 is opened and thecompressed air enters the cylinder 29 through the pipes 8 and 3| and pushes the cylinder therein moving the brake lever by the rod 28, thus stopping the car instantly. At the same time, the valve in the casing 9' is opened and the air of the cylinder I'I is discharged into the atmosphere so that each part returns to its original position.

With this apparatus, the bumper is projected in front of the body of the car and in case of co1- lision is moved so as to automatically stop the car, whereby it is possible to prevent danger and protect the body and other parts of the car from damage.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic stop for vehicles comprising means for maintaining a source of compressed air, a bumper adjustably mounted at the front of the vehicle, means operable by compressed air for extending the bumper beyond its normal pocompressed air for extending the bumper, and

means dependent on the speed of the Vehicle for actuating said Valve means whereby the bumper is extended in accordance with the speed of the vehicle.

2. An automatic stop for vehicles having brakesv as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising e in retracted position for actuating said Valvey means whereby the brakes are automatically applied when the bumper is retracted.

kHmoiaUi/rr HIRABAYASHI. 

